Automatic stop fob



. J. BRANDSTETTER.

AUTOMATIC STOP FOR TALKING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.22, 1919.

1,432,232. Patented Oct. 17, 1922.

i2 39 ii 46 22 1 4' F1457 i I) 42 INVENTOR. Jose/- BEANDSTETTER.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Oct. 17, 1922.

PATENT. OFFICE.

JOSEF BBANDSTETTER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS- AUTOMATIC STOP FOR TALKING MACHINES.

Application filed November 22,1919. Serial No. 339,927.

To alt whom it may concern: I I

Be it known that I, J osnr BRANDs'rErrER, a citizen of the United States, residing at- Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Stops for Talking Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to automatic stops for talking machines and more specifically to the type of stop adapted to allow the record rotator or turntable to rotate as long as inwardmotion of the reproducing element continues but to stop the rotation as soon as such inward motion ceases.

The principal object of my invention is to provide improvements over the dev ce disclosed in my copending applicatlon Serial No. 224,175, filed March 23, 1918, embodying vertically operating pistons'for the purpose of decreasing to a minimum the friction of the pistons in operation.

Another object is to eliminate all valves. I accomplish this purpose by the use of ports controlled by the motion of the parts themselves. I

An advantage of my present construction is that I do not employ a spring to hold the brake member in operative position.

Another object is to provide a device which will function equally well onall types of machines regardless of differences in the rate of inward travel of the reproducing element during the reproducing operation.

A special object is to provide a connection between the brake and its operating piston which acts resiliently in applying the brake, but positively in holding it in inoperatlve position, thus allowing the piston to move after the brake has been moved against its sto i li urther objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent as the description proceeds. i

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a plan view illustrating part of an ordinary talking machine with the record rotating turn table removed showing the application of one embodiment of my invention thereto. Fig. 2 is a section on the line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged section on the line 3--3 of Fig. 1.. Fig. 4 is a detail of the brake lever, and Fig. 5 is a detail section through the I brake operating piston and cylinder illustrating a modification of the same.

In the embodiment of my invention selectedi for' illustration, the talking machine comprises the customary box having a top member 10 which supports the reproducing element herein shown as a rotatable tone arm 11 and the record rotator herein shown as a turn table 12. A brake lever 13 suitably pivoted by a pintle 14 carries a brake shoe 15, slldably mounted in the cylindrical port1on 16 and resiliently pressed against the table by the spring 17. A pin 18 sliding in a slot 19 prevents the shoe 15 from sliding out of the cylinder 16. I

The brake lever 13 is adapted to move from the position illustrated in Fig. l in which it rests against the stop 20 and in.

which the brake shoe engages the inner surface of the downwardly extending periph-1 eral rim of the table 12 to prevent it from rotating; to'a position against the stop pin 2]. thereby releasing the table to allow it to rotate.

I have provided means for holding the brake lever 13 in inoperative position only during continued inward motion of the tone arm 11 in the nature of a fluid-operated piston 22 vertically reciprocatory in the cylinder 23 and connected through a link 24 with one end of a rocker member 25 suitably pivoted at 26. A small pin 27 on the brake lever engages the elbow of the rocker member 25, entering the aperture 28. While the brake lever I have illustrated is a bell crank pivoted at the intersection of its arms, and the rocker member I have illustrated is a bell crank pivoted at'the end of one of its arms, it will be obvious that any linkage for this purpose may be employed.

A pressure supplying means is provided in the nature of a large piston 29 reciprocating in a cylinder 30, communicating with the cylinder 23 through a tube 31. The piston 29 is actuated by the motion of the tone arm 11 through any suitable mechanical connection such as a rod 32 pivoted to an ear 33 on the rotating tone arm 11 and actuating the piston 29 through a bell crank lever 34 and connecting link 35.

. The piston 29 has a fairly tight fit in the cylinder 30, whereas the brake operating piston 22 fits quite loosely in the cylinder 23 allowing a gradual escape of air by leakage past its walls.

In operating my device the tone arm 11 is swung outward a trifle farther than the out-er groove on the record disc andthen moved in again to the groove to start playing the record. This initial inward movement will supply pressure fluid to raise the piston 22, releasing the brake 13 and allowing the table to rotate. As the tone arm moves in across the record during the reproducing operation, its motion will continue to supply fluid to the cylinder 23 in sufficient quantities to counteract the leakage occurring around the piston 22 and hold the piston in elevated position. As soon as inward motion of the tone arm has ceased, however, failure of this supply will allow the piston 22 to sink as the air leaks out past it and by its weight to move the brake into operative position. As the brake shoe moves into contact with the rim of the table at a rather acute angle, the friction between the shoe and the table will tend to hold the shoe in the position shown in Fig. 1 until the table has come to rest. The piston 29 is preferably heavier than the piston 22 so that its weight will just counterbalance its own friction during the reproducing operation and the lateral thrust on the stylus is therefore very small.

Safety means for preventing excessive pressure or suction which would injure the parts of the device is provided. In Fig. 2 I have illustrated a gravity actuated valve in the nature of a small piston 36 reciprocating in the valve cylinder 37 opening into the bottom of the large cylinder 30. A port 38 in the bottom of the cylinder admits atmospheric pressure at all times to the under side of the piston 36. This piston has a centrally located peripheral groove 39 communicating with a passage-way 40 extending radially inward and then axially upward as indicated in dotted lines to the upper end of the piston. A port 41 in the side of the valve cylinder is adapted to register with the peripheral groove 39 upon a slight upward movement of the valve weight. It will be seen that this device may be arranged to let air flow into the large cylinder 30 when the pressure therein is below atmospheric pressure by any predetermined amount, thus automatically preventing excessive suction at any time, for instance, when the tone arm is rapidly swung outward.

In order to relieve excessive pressure be neath the piston 22 I provide a port 42 in the wall of the cylinder 23 which may be uncovered by the motion of the piston just at the end of its upward stroke when the brake lever 31 is against the stop 21.

Records made by different manufacturers vary considerably in the character of the grooves. For example, Victor and C0- lumbia records have their undulations in the side walls of the grooves and the grooves are quite narrow, whereas Path records have-their undulations in the bottom walls of the grooves and the grooves are of much greater width than on Victor and Columbia records. The difference in width of the grooves of records causes a difference in the rate-of lateral swing of the tone arm in traversing the records. For instance, in playing the wide-grooved Path records, the speed. of the tone arm in traversing the record is greater than in playing the narrow-grooved Victor records. The port 42, however, automatically takes care of this variance by allowing any excess pressure to'escape, so that the greater speed of travel of the tone arm in playing a Path record will have no objectionable effect on the device. It will also be apparent that excessive pressure in the cylinders and excessive strain on the mechanical connections cannot occur on account of the automatic action of this port.

' In Fig. I have illustrated means for accomplishing the relief of either excessive pressure or excessive suction without any valves at all in either cylinder. A relief channel 43 is provided in the wall of the piston 22 and will establish connection between the port 42 and the interior of the cylinder 23 when the piston has been moved down to a predetermined point, thus admitting air to the system to automatically prevent excessive suction.

The parts are designed so that the brake lever 13 comes in contact with the stop 20 just before the motion of the piston 22 brings the pasage-way 43 into registry with the port 42. It is therefore necessary to allow the piston 22 to move downward slightly after the stop 20 has arrested the motion of the lever 13. I have in Fig. 5 illustrated a connection between the rocker 25 and the piston 22 comprising a sleeve 44 pivoted to one of the parts and a pin 45 pivoted to the other. A tension spring 46 normally holds the pin 45 seated in the sleeve 44 and upward movement of the piston 22 will operate positively to withdraw the brake from operative position. After the brake lever, however, has been moved against the stop 20, the spring 46 will allow the piston 22 to continue its downward movement partially withdrawing the pin 45 from its socket and relieving the suction b I bringing the passage 43 into registry with t e port 42.

In its mechanical details my device is relatively simple and inexpensive and also durable in service. The plate 47 which affords a pivotal mounting for the bell crank lever 34, the pintle 14 which pivotally supports the brake lever 18 andthe cylinders 23 and 30, may be conveniently attached to the cover 10 in various assembled relationships to accommodate the design of different types of talking machines playing either disc or cylinder record's. Covers 48 and 49 may be employed to preventdirt from falling into the cylinders.

While I have described and illustrated in detail a specific embodiment of my invention, it should be clearly understood that the description is only for purposes of illustration and that many modifications and variations will naturally occur to those skilled in the art. I aim in the subjoined claims to cover all such legitimate variations and modifications. v

I claim as my invention 1. In combination with the record rotator and the movable reproducing element of a talking machine, gravity actuated means normally tending to arrest the rotation of said record rotator, and fluid pressure means operated by said reproducing element during the reproducing operation for maintaining said arresting means inoperative during operation of said reproducing element.

2. In combination with a record rotator and the movable reproducing element of a talking machine, means normally tending to arrest the rotation of said record rotator, fluid pressure means actuated by said reproducing element for maintaining said arresting means inoperative during normal. inward motion of said reproducing element, and means for relieving the excessive pressure due to abnormal motion of said reproducing element, said means comprising a port adapted to be uncovered by the motion of the parts themselves to relieve excessive pressure.

3. In combination with the record rotatorand the movable reproducing element of atalking machine, means normally tending to arrest the motion of said record 'rotator, fluid pressure means actuated by said. reproducing element during the reproducing operation to malintainsaid arresting means inoperative and means for relieving excessive s ion in said pressure fluid means when sail reproducing element is moved manually comprising a. port adapted to be uncovered, a member adapted to slide past and uncover the same, said member being adapted to act when the suction has reached a certain predetermined value.

4. In combination with the record rotator and the movable reproducing element of a talking machine, a braking mechanism nor- In ally tending to fall by the action of gravity only into a braking position and arrest the motion of said record rotator, and fluid pressure actuated means adapted to prevent the fall oi? said braking means during normal operating motion of said reproducing element.

In combination with the record rotator andthe movable reproducing element of a talking machine, a reciprocating piston loosely fitting in its cylinder whereby leakage may occur past said piston, braking mechanism connected to said piston, means operable by gravity adapted to actuate said mechanism to braking position, and means operated by said reproducing element adapted during normal motion of said element in reproducing to supply fluid to said piston and counteract the effect of leakage.

6. In combination with the record rotator and the movable reproducing element o'f'a talking machine, means normally tending to arrest the motion or said record rota-tor, fluid pressure means operated by said reproducing element during reproduction and adapted to maintain said arresting means in operative, pressure relief means in the nature or a port uncovered by the motion of said pressure fluid means to relieve excessive pressure when said reproducing element is moved manually suction relief means in the nature of a reciprocating valve piston having its lower surface at all times exposed to atmospheric pressure and its uppersurii'ace exposed to the pressure Within said fluid pressure means, said piston being adapted to be raised against the action of gravity to uncover a relief port and relieve excessive suction when said reproducing element is moved manually.

7. In combination with the record rotator and the movable reproducing element of a talking machine, means normally tending to arrest the rotation of said record rotator, fluid pressure means operated by said reproducing element during reproduction to maintain said arresting means inoperative and means for relieving excessive pressure or excessive suction comprising means in the nature of a port adapted to be uncovered by the motion of the parts themselves to establish a connection between said fluid pressure means and the atmosphere. I

8. In combination with the record rotator and the movable reproducing element of a talking machine, two cylinders connected by a passageway, a piston in one cylinder operatively connected to the reproducing element, a piston in the other cylinder operatively connected to record rotator braking mechanism and a port adapted to be uncovered by the brake operating piston adapted to connect the cylinder in which it operates to the atmosphere when said piston is talking machine, a braking element, a piston and a connection between said piston and said braking element adapted to transmitmotion positively in one direction and resi1i ently in the other direction.

10. In combination with the record rotator and the movable reproducing element of a talking machine,'a brake adapted to arrest the motion oi said record rotator, a piston and a. connection between said piston and said brake adapted to act positively in removing said brake and resiliently in applying said brake.

11. In combination with the record rotator and movable reproducing element of a talking machine, a brake aoapted to arrest the motion of said record rotator, means for limiting the motion oi? s L brake into operative position, a reciprocating piston, and a connection. between said piston and said brake adapted to operate positively in moving said brake out of operative position but capable of: yielding resiliently to allow said piston to to continue its movement after the 1- brake has been moved into operative position.

12. In combination with the record rotator and movable reproducing element of a talking machine, a brake adapted to arrest the motion of said record rotator, means for limiting the motion of said brake into operative position, a reciprocating piston, a connection between said piston and said brake adapted to operate positively in moving said brake out of operative position but capable of yielding resiliently to allow said piston to continue its movement after the brake has been moved into operative position, and means associated with said piston adapted upon motion of said piston after said brake has been moved to operative position to relieve excessive suction on said piston.

13. In combination with the record rotator and the movable reproducing element of a talking machine, a brake, a small piston operatively associated with said brake, a piston several times larger than said small piston operatively connected with said reproducing element, means for conveying the fluid delivered by said large piston upon motion of said reproducing element, to operate said small piston, and means associated with said small piston permitting a gradual leakage of pressure fluid.

1 1-. In combination with the record rotator and the movable reproducing element of a talking machine, a braking element adapted to engage the record rotator and comprising two sections resiliently connected together and pneumatically operated means connected to said braking element and governed by said reproducing element for controlling the application of said braking element.

15. In combination with the record rotator and the movable reproducing element of a talking machine, a braking element for stopping the record rotator comprising a body portion, a portion movably carried thereby and a spring to urge the latter portion toward the part which it is to engage for stopping the record rotator, and pneumatic means connected to said braking element and operated by the reproducing element for controlling the application 01 said braking element. 7

16. A brake r01- talking machines comprising a supporting member movable into and out of operative position, a brake shoe carried by said supporting member, a lost motion connection between said brake shoe and said supporting member, and resilient means operating throughout the range of said lost motion connection to move said brake shoe with respect to said supporting member into operative position.

17. In combination with record rotator a movable reproducing element of a n machine, means norm ally tending to an the rotation oi the record rotator, f uid pressure means operated by said reproducing element during reproduction to maintain said arresting means inoperative, and means for relieving excessive pressure or excessive suction including a port uncovered by the motion oi the parts themselves to establish a connection between said fiuid pressure means and the atmosphere, certain of the parts having means for coni'iecting said port to the interior of said fluid pressure means upon motion of the parts in either direction past predetermined points.

18. In combination with the record rotator and reproducing element of a talking machine, means normally tending to arrest the mot-ion of'said record rotator, a vertical cylinder and a piston therein operatively connected to said arresting means, and means operated by the inward motion of said reproducing element for supplying pressure-fluid to said cylinder.

19. The combination recited in claim 18 in which said piston tits loosely in said cylinder whereby friction is minimized and whereby the leakage past said piston will relieve the pressure in said. cylinder and permit actuation of said arresting means as soon as the supply of pressure-fluid to said cylinder fails.

20. In combination with the record rotator of a talkingmachine, a bell crank brake lever pivoted on a vertical axis. a bell crank rocker pivoted on a horizontal axis, an operating piston, an operative connection between said piston and said rocker, and an operative connection between said rocker and said brake lever.

21. In combination with the record rotator of a talking machine, a bell crank brake lever pivoted at its elbow on a vertical axa bell crank rocker pivoted about a horizontal axis, an operative connection between said bell crank rocker and said bell crank brake lever, and means operativel f con nected to said rocker normally to actuate said brake lever into operative posi m.

-22. In an automatic stop or phonographs, in combination, a brake shoe movable in a horizontal plane, a verti, .l cylinder element, a piston element relatively movable therein, and an operative connection between the moving one of said ele ments and said brake shoe.

23. In combination with the record r0- tator of a talking machine, a vertical cylinder, a piston in said cylinder, a braking mechanism, a connecting link extending upward from said piston for operative connection to said braking mechanism, said connecting link remaining approximately vertical throughout its range of motion.

24. In combination with the record rotator and reproducing element of a talking machine, an automatic stop comprising means for braking said record rotator, a cylinder and piston for operating said braking means, a second cylinder and piston con nected to be operated by said reproducing element, said two cylinders and pistons being in communication with each other whereby the movement of the reproducing element will maintain air pressure in both cylinders to prevent application of said braking means during movement of said reproducing element, and means tending to move said reproducing element in the normal direction of its traverse across the record.

25. In combination with the record rotator and reproducing element of a talking machine, means governed by theveloclty of said. reproducing element and indepen dent of its position for automatically stopping the motion of said rotator. and means tending to move said tone arm in the direc tion to operate said governed means.

26. In a pressure fluid actuated automatic stop for talking machines, a cylinder, a piston, and automatic relief means associated. therewith for preventing differences in pressure in said cylinder greater than a predetermined amount.

27. In combination with the record ro tator and the reproducing element of a talkin machine, means normally tending to arrest the motion of said record rotator, and fluid pressure means having vertically movable pistons and operated by the motion of said reproducing element for maintain ng said arresting means inoperative during inward motion of said reproducing element.

28. In combination with the record rotator and the reproducing element of a talking machine, means normally tending to arrest the motion of said record rotator, means operated by the motion of said reproducing element to prevent operation of said arrestmg means, said preventing means requiring the expenditure of energy and including a vertically moving element, the weight of said vertically movable element being ar ranged to supply an amount of energy ap proximately equal to that required.

or" said pistons for relieving excess pressure.-

31. The combination recited in claim 29 in combination with means in one of said cylinders for relieving excessive suction.

82. An automatic non-set stop for talking machines having, in combination, fluidpressure-actuated means comprising a plurality of cylinders, a piston in one of said cylinders, and an operative connection between said stop and said piston, one of said cylinders having means for relieving excessive suction.

33. In combination with the record rotator and the movable stylus-carrying element of a talking machine, two vertical cylinders, pistons in said cylinders, an operative connection between one of said pistons and said stylus-carrying element, a braking mechanism, and an operative connection between the other of said cylinders and said braking mechanism.

34:. The combination recited in claim 33 in which the piston connected with said styhis-carrying element fits without leakage in its cylinder and in which the piston connected with said braking mechanism is a loose fit in its cylinder to allow leakage and to reduce friction.

35. In combination with the record rotator and the reproducing element of a talking machine, two separate. cylinders, pistons in said cylinders, there being an air passage connecting said cylinders, means operated by one of said pistons for braking said rotator, and means connecting the other piston to be operated by said reproducing element.

36. In combination with the record rota tor and reproducing element of a talking machine, means controlled by the movement of said reproducing element for automatically stopping the motion of said rotator, and means for counterbalancing the force required for said reproducing element to operate said stopping means.

37. In combination with the record rotaerative connection between one of said rockers and said reproducing element, a braking mechanism, and an operative connection between the other of said rockers and said braking mechanism.

38. In combination with the record rotator and the reproducing element of a talking machine, two cylinders, two pivotally mounted bell crank rocker members, connecting links between pistons in said cylinders and said rocker members, an operative connection between one of said rockers and said reproducing element, a braking mechanism and an operative connection between the other of said rockers and said braking mechanism.

39. In combination with the record rotator and the reproducing element of a talking machine, two upright cylinders, two bell crank rocker members pivoted on horizontal axes, links connecting pistons in said cylinders with said rocker members, an operative connection between one of said rockers and said reproducing element, a braking mechanism, an operative connection between the other of said rockers and said braking mechanism, the piston having connection with the rocker having connection with said reproducing element being adapted to fit substantially without leakage in its cylinder and the piston connected with the rocker having connection with said braking mechanism being adapted to have a loose fit in its cylinder to allow substantial leakage to reduce friction.

40. The combination recited in claim 38 in combination with means in one of said cylinders for relieving excessive suction.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

J OSEF BRANDSTETTER. 

